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Who Dey Revolution Manifesto

Preamble

IN THIS TIME of perpetual Cincinnati Bengals incompetence and futility, with zero playoff wins in the nineteen seasons since the WhoDeyRevolution Godfather, Paul Brown, passed away in 1991 and handed the team to his fortunate son, the Despot, Mike Brown;

Introduction

WE, the members of the Who Dey Revolution, in our fervent dedication to the Cincinnati Bengals and fanatical desire to transform our hometown team into perpetual Super Bowl contenders, call for a popular revolution of fans to demand comprehensive reform to the managerial decisions and approach of Cincinnati Bengals ownership, management, staff and players, and hereby call for the adoption of the following Who Dey Revolution Manifesto:

Manifesto Demands

THAT the Mike Brown, Katie Blackburn, Marvin Lewis, along with every other member of the Bengals management, staff and personnel, state publicly to all Bengals fans, “I will do everything in my power to help the Cincinnati Bengals win a Super Bowl;”

THAT Mike Brown will hire a general manager, drastically expand the scouting department and relinquish all control of player personnel;

THAT all training, rehabilitation and medical facilities are considered best-in-class compared to other NFL teams;

THAT the management fill the team only with players who fit the system, both mentally and physically, and are not reluctant to makes changes to player personnel when needed, regardless of cost or loyalty concerns;

THAT offensive and defensive line depth is considered the top priority for all player personnel decisions;

THAT all decisions made by ownership, management, staff and players, both on and off the field, are judged only by this criterion: “Does this help the Cincinnati Bengals win a Super Bowl?”

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August 18, 2009

Final Word on Hard Knocks, Week 1

Briefly, a final word on the first installment of Hard Knocks.

I said it before, and I'll say it again: Hard Knocks was yet another chance for the Bengals front office to publicly state their goal is to win a Super Bowl. Once again, they failed. During Mike Brown's downright depressing welcome speech to the team, he stated that last year was an embarrassment, and that our fans 'let us hear about it'. He then went on to say the following about this season:"We have a shot at a good season. A successful, winning season. The kind of season we all want and expect...the place for us to answer back is on the playing field. And from there our critics will hear us loud and clear".

Good to know it's on the playing field Mike, thanks.

Mike seems more concerned about 'silencing those horrible people that complain after another dismal season' than concentrating on winning a Super Bowl. Like a 9-7 season is good enough. 9-7 accomplishes all of Mike's goals: winning season, successful (in his mind), and just enough to quell most of the intense criticisms. And it won't get you in the playoffs in the AFC.

Once again, the front office (via Hard Knocks) had a chance to come across as a competent, well-run organization. Hell, they could have even faked it. Once again, they failed.

- Jim Lippincott's absurd, downright insulting moment with fullback JD Runnels, cutting him at 5:30am before he even knew what was going on. Jeremi Johnson is almost fifteen pounds overweight, and he stays (because of Mike Brown, reportedly). JD Runnels is cut because of ability, and that's the only reason we cut people (very odd, weird comment from Lippincott). It showed the Bengals in a very poor light, especially when compared to past seasons of Hard Knocks. And it was one area that Marvin Lewis did not address when he talked about Hard Knocks this past week. He addressed Mike Brown leading the team meeting, but he did not discuss this scene.

- Mike Brown getting puzzled looks and eye rolls when asking about switching a defensive lineman to tight end. Plus, it was Mike Brown looking like a professor talking to his students, not seated around a conference table like Jerry Jones and the Cowboys last season.

That being said, I thought Marvin Lewis came across as a great communicator, and a great leader. Much like Bill Belichick, I think he will be an outstanding head coach somewhere else, someday in the future. In a well-built organization, with a strong front office and leadership, it's clear he will be a fantastic coach. And Hard Knocks reinforced that point for me.

The assistant coaches and players were also bright spots in the episode. And that reinforces my belief that you could have Tom Brady and the entire Patriots squad over here, and it wouldn't matter. As long as Mike, Katie, and family are in charge...and setting the bar of mediocrity...things will NEVER change around here.

The only slight disappointment from a player standpoint was Roy Williams, who came off as a little 'soft' when discussing Oklahoma drills. If you are a safety and have the rep of being a hard hitting safety, you should love popping wide receivers in the mouth. Not talk about taking it easy.

There are four episodes to go. The coaches, players, and story lines were strong in the first episode. The front office proved why they have earned the worst record in all four major sports since 1991.

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I'm willing to give Williams the benefit of the doubt on the OK drill. Hopefully his grin afterward was the confidence of a past pro-bowler knowing what he'd do in a game situation. Or that may be wishful thinking on my part.

Lippencott? Wow. Ability? How ironic.Now I'm sure the ability word is used so as to prevent a cut player from filing a grievance but wow. Obviously the ability factor only applies to players not front office based on the last 2 decades.
What struck me was the playbook being left on a doorstep. I don't care how tight security is can you ever imagine a Belichek or Parcells allowing this?
Mikey's opening speech? Doubt even an amoeba could find inspiration in that sad soliloquy.

And finally this wonderful nugget from Sports Illustrated Postcard from G-town:
Memorable Image
An intense Kentucky lightning storm rolled in just before evening practice was due to commence last Monday, and as the Bengals awaited word from Lewis as to the session's fate (it was ultimately cancelled, and the players soon hurried off into meetings), they huddled beneath the dripping bleachers of Georgetown's Toyota Stadium. It was, to me, something of a refreshing scene.

"This doesn't look very much like the NFL," I remarked to the gentleman standing next to me.

So I dont have HBO and I've been dying to see the Hard Knocks episodes. Does anyone know where I could find it online??? I've tried to look all over, but so far Ive come up short. Not on hulu, not on surfthechannel, no free first episode on nfl.com or hbo.com. Any suggestions?

Mike H sadly no suggestions. I had heard about HBO online but that is only for subscribers. I got lucky w/ a free 3 month trial of HBO/Showtime.
And I have to admit, had never seen a previous Hard Knocks but was hooked within 2 minutes; NFL Films production says it all.

Mike Brown looked like a dope. Let's be honest, on paper the Bengals have a pretty solid roster with some relatively big names (that's what happens when you continuously draft high) and the coaching staff actually appears to know what they're doing. The problem is where the control truly lies. When Mike Brown relinquished some of his power to Marvin early on (2003-2006) their record speaks for itself. Compare it over the last few years when there is a trail of trademark Mike Brown moves and decisions and that record also speaks for itself. Here is my main problem with Mike Brown: Let's be honest again, he is a GREAT BUSINESSMAN. He's shrewd, clever, manipulative and a penny pincher. His main focus is profits in which he has succeeded for the last 20 years. He is an AWFUL NFL G.M. If he just relinquished that duty to a competent person OUTSIDE of his family, but still remained owner of this team, I really believe (despite my bias) that the Bengals would be a perennial winning club because of that move and ensuing ones that would follow. They won't, though. I don't know that I can think of a more stubborn man than Mike Brown.

Mike Brown is a fantastic business man, but he doesn't care about winning a Super Bowl. That would only cost him money. I remember when the Bengals went to their 2 Super Bowls that there was much made of the fact that Mike didn't even want to have the Ben-Gals at the "big game" because he had to pay for them to be there (air fare, lodging, etc). That is definitely NOT someone who wants to go to the Super Bowl. As a previous poster said, 9-7 would be awesome to him. He still makes a boatload of money and doesn't have to lay out more. Never mind the fact that he would make who knows how much more of they did start being successful, he just doesn't want to spend any money.

Roy looked a "little" soft? I've seen tougher looking piles of pudding. And then he got run over by Purify. Maybe he thinks he is saving "it" for when it matters, but he doesn't look like the vet leader I was hoping for in the d backfield.

Keeping JJ at fullback over any person with a pulse is ridiculous. Unless . . .what do you think about moving to DT, he's got some good size?

For those that want to watch online(Canadians and non HBO subscribers), I found this link through Youtube - it's not great, but it's all I needed.
I got a pop-up that wouldn't let me continue if I paused it for too long. If you just watch it all the way through, you should be fine...